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Year 4

Create a low relief ceramic tile: transfer and carve

I can sculpt a low relief tile.

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New
New
Year 4

Create a low relief ceramic tile: transfer and carve

I can sculpt a low relief tile.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Low relief tiles can be made by carving into leather hard clay.
  2. Designs can be transferred onto leather hard clay, making an accurate copy.
  3. Texture can be created in clay using a variety of clay tools.

Keywords

  • Leather hard - a stage in the pottery process where the clay is firm but still not completely dry

  • Transfer - to move something from one place to another

  • Carve - to cut or shape something

  • Texture - the way something feels or looks like it might feel

Common misconception

Clay cannot be worked with unless it is very wet.

Clay can be worked with when it is leather hard. This means it has dried out slightly, so it can be stronger to work with.


To help you plan your year 4 art and design lesson on: Create a low relief ceramic tile: transfer and carve, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Clay can be smoothed with clay tools or fingers. To remove excess clay, a damp cloth or sponge can be used.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Variety of clay tools, leather hard clay tiles, damp sponges or cloths.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these would be considered a "feature" of a local landmark?
the place where it is located
the age of the landmark
Correct answer: the shape of its windows or doors
Correct answer: the pattern of the stones
Q2.
Tracing is copying a design onto special paper to transfer the image.
Correct answer: True
False
Q3.
What is the purpose of "guide sticks" when working with clay?
to roll the clay into a ball
to measure the thickness of the clay
Correct answer: to ensure a consistent depth of clay
to decorate the clay
Q4.
When rolling out a clay tile, it is important to make sure the clay is the same all over.
Correct Answer: thickness, depth
Q5.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:design,the process of planning and creating something

the process of planning and creating something

Correct Answer:trace,drawing over the outline of an image or shape to copy it

drawing over the outline of an image or shape to copy it

Correct Answer:guide sticks,a tool used to ensure a consistent depth of clay

a tool used to ensure a consistent depth of clay

Q6.
Select the picture that represents low relief sculpture.
A
Correct answer: B
C

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the term "leather hard" mean in pottery?
Clay that is completely dry.
Clay that is soft and squishy.
Correct answer: Clay that is firm but still not completely dry.
Clay that is ready to be glazed.
Q2.
"Design" is the process of planning and creating something.
Correct answer: True
False
Q3.
What does the word "trace" mean when designing a ceramic tile?
Correct answer: to draw over an image or shape to copy it exactly
to paint a picture of the shape quickly
to cut out a shape from the clay slowly
to add colour to the design carefully
Q4.
Tracing helps you get an accurate outline of the design to work with.
1 - Attach tracing paper with masking tape.
2 - Use a sharp pencil to trace over your outlines.
3 - Place the tracing paper over the surface that you wish to transfer to.
4 - Draw over the lines to create a copy of the original.
Q5.
Match the following keywords with their definitions.
Correct Answer:leather hard,a stage where the clay is firm but still not completely dry

a stage where the clay is firm but still not completely dry

Correct Answer:transfer,to move something from one place to another

to move something from one place to another

Correct Answer:carve,to cut or shape something

to cut or shape something

Correct Answer:texture,the way something feels or looks like it might feel

the way something feels or looks like it might feel

Q6.
means to move something from one place to another such as moving your design from tracing paper onto the clay tile.
Correct Answer: transfer